Posts Tagged ‘luxury hotel marrakech’

Being one of the closest and most accessible destinations for European visitors in search of a truly exotic experience, Morocco appeals through the allure of such places as Casablanca, Fes and Tangiers and the vastness of wilderness areas like the Rif and Atlas mountains and the Sahara desert.

However, the country’s star turn is, arguably, Marrakech, the country’s southerly tourism capital, at the foot of the Atlas mountains. This is for good reason as there is no shortage of things to see and do in Marrakech and the surrounding area.

Here are some examples:

Jemaa el Fna, the huge central square, is the pulsating heart of the city, its bursting energy epitomised by street entertainers and al fresco eateries.

The excitement of the place is infectious as the constant pounding of drums and tuneless dirges of snake charmers’ pipes compete with the cries of street vendors and storytellers all enveloped by the aroma of an amazing variety of sizzling street food. This has to be on everyone’s list of ‘what to see in Marrakech’.

After the main square head for the Souks. With miles of narrow lanes offering every kind of local craft and product one is sure to find a bargain among the apparently endless stalls of jewellery, pottery, leather goods, fabrics, spices, carpets, wrought ironware and so much more.

When it comes to choosing accommodation in Marrakech there is no shortage of large international hotels for package tourist and business customers and there is no lack, either, of riads of all kinds, the vast majority of them unregulated and run by non-professionals.

However, Les Borjs de la Kasbah, with its eighteen rooms, is one of a small number of boutique hotels in Marrakech to offer an intimate and exclusive atmosphere in addition to a full range of services of the highest standard.

Opened in 2006 after a three year building and restoration project, this friendly, luxury hotel is a haven of peace and tranquillity amid the hustle and bustle for which Marrakech is so famous. Here are some reasons for staying with us:

1) Location: just yards from the Royal Palace, Les Borjs de la Kasbah stands in the heart of the fortified Kasbah, in the most southerly part of the old city, an entertaining walk from the central Jemaa el Fna square but far enough away from its hurly burly atmosphere to be delightfully peaceful by comparison.

2) The Pool: a secluded leisure area houses the 5m x 10m heated pool with its sun terrace and poolside bar. After a day busy shopping and sightseeing in Marrakech you can unwind in this remarkable haven of tranquillity sipping a mint tea or iced drink – you can take a light lunch here too.

Marrakech is gaining in popularity for many good reasons. Here are just six of them.

1) Just a three hour flight from UK with British Airways (started March 2011), Easyjet, Ryanair, Royal Air Maroc, Atlas Blue, Air France, Alitalia, KLM, Lufthansa and Swiss Airlines. An increase in weekly flights from 39 to 100 a week has followed a major upgrade for Marrakech airport to provide much improved facilities for the larger numbers of arrivals.

2) Your money goes further! The cost of living in terms of everyday items is significantly lower in Morocco than it is in Europe, not least as far as food, handicrafts and souvenirs are concerned. Of all short haul sun destinations available to Europeans Marrakech is one of the shrewdest choices.

Since the day it opened in 2007, Le Jasmin, the restaurant of Les Borjs de la Kasbah, has taken pride in the quality of its cuisine.

However, following employment earlier this year of a top consultant chef from France, gourmet visitors to Les Borjs de la Kasbah will now be treated to an even more memorable dining experience thanks to a new menu featuring French cuisine with distinctive Moroccan overtones, as well as a separate selection of classic local dishes.

Smoked Atlas trout

Smoked Atlas trout

In February we invited Olivier Pichot, former head chef at the Trianon, Paris (where he obtained 2 Michelin stars before handing over the reins to a certain Gordon Ramsay), to have a look at every aspect of catering at Les Borjs de la Kasbah and to make recommendations.

Over a three month period the entire restaurant operation was assessed and a programme of additional training implemented including, not least, the techniques required to produce and serve a number of exciting new dishes, both French and Moroccan.

Salad of gambas prawns

Salad of gambas prawns

The main aim behind the review of dining at Les Borjs was not only to raise the bar a little by presenting a number of new, light and refined dishes, including certain French classics, but to imbue them with the unmistakeable influences of Moroccan herbs and spices.

Not only is Marrakech a popular destination for growing numbers of tourists from many European as well as other nations, including celebrities from all walks of life, the city also receives more than its fair share of attention from several royal houses.

King Mohammed VI is, of course, a regular visitor to the pink city, one of his favourite locations, indeed he has recently announced that a number of cabinet meetings will in future be held there.

Charles and Camilla in Morocco

Charles and Camilla in Morocco

Furthermore, a number of other royal personalities have spent time in Marrakech this year, including Britain’s Prince Charles with his wife Camilla, who visited in March, and King Carlos of Spain who was there in May. (more…)